Poll reveals public supports Fiordland Monorail

A public opinion poll has this
month confirmed more than twice as many New Zealanders
support the development of tourism infrastructure like the
Fiordland monorail than are opposed.

“The Fiordland
Link Experience is designed to be a world-class tourism
experience. It’s really encouraging that the public
recognises the significant benefits it will bring to New
Zealand despite some misinformation spread by a small group
of vocal opponents,” says Bob Robertson, Director of
Riverstone Holdings Ltd.

The Curia Market Research survey
found that 58% of New Zealanders supported the development
of the monorail outside of National Park land. Only 27%
opposed it. When broken down, the results showed there was
more support than opposition regardless of gender, age or
political leanings.

The Fiordland Link Experience is a
$170 million investment in tourism that delivers visitors
via catamaran, off-road vehicle and monorail to the boundary
of the Fiordland National Park, without travelling through
it.

It would bring hundreds of jobs to the region and be
backed by a multi-million dollar international marketing
budget that would help to attract tens of thousands of
additional tourists to New Zealand and inject millions of
dollars into the wider economy each year.

“There is
good awareness of this project across the country and the
level of support shown reflects what we know anecdotally. It
reinforces our belief that we’re on the right track,”
says Mr Robertson.

“Our aim is to be a model of
eco-friendly, sustainable tourism. We have refined our
proposal during eight years of consultation with the
Department of Conservation to ensure the route showcases
scenery of great beauty without entering any wilderness
areas or land classified as remote.

“A significant
amount of work has been dedicated to the route design,
construction techniques, mitigation, rehabilitation and
potential conservation projects to make sure its
environmental impact is minimal. Environmental integrity is
our number one priority. The Fiordland Link Experience is as
much about the journey as it is the destination. We want to
show off our backcountry and deliver on the 100% Pure NZ
promise to visitors.”

A NZ Herald Digi-Poll
published in July found New Zealanders were perfectly split
(46.2% each way) when asked whether they supported both the
monorail and the Milford-Dart Tunnel, two separate and
vastly different projects. That result surprised opponents
of the tunnel who attributed it to the fact the monorail had
wider backing, which drove support levels higher than
expected. This latest poll would appear to support that
view, as the tunnel has since been declined.

The
full poll results are included below. Please also find
attached a Media Fact Sheet and Map displaying the project
route.

Curia Market Research Poll
Results

The poll ran between 2 – 10
September and has a margin of error of +/- 3.8%. The full
results are included below.

Do you think New
Zealand is doing enough to create new innovative world-class
tourism experiences to attract more visitors?

Count

Col %

Doing enough
to attract
visitors

Yes

346

52%

No

234

35%

Unsure/refuse

82

12%

Total

662

100%

Gender

Age
Group

Female

Male

18-30

31-45

46-60

61+

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Doing enough to attract
visitors

Yes

54%

51%

57%

50%

50%

54%

No

34%

37%

27%

40%

35%

37%

Unsure/refuse

12%

12%

16%

10%

15%

10%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Area
Type

Akl

Wlg

Chch

Prov
Cities

Towns

Rural

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Doing enough to attract
visitors

Yes

55%

51%

44%

50%

53%

57%

No

30%

46%

35%

36%

38%

36%

Unsure/refuse

14%

3%

21%

14%

8%

7%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Probed Party Vote (All
Voters)

National

Labour

NZ
First

Green

Undecided

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Col %

Col %

Doing enough
to attract
visitors

Yes

56%

50%

40%

38%

62%

No

34%

34%

46%

51%

32%

Unsure/refuse

10%

16%

14%

11%

6%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Have you heard about the proposed tourism project
in Fiordland that involves constructing a 41km monorail to
let visitors experience the Fiordland
backcountry?

Count

Col
%

Heard about Fiordland
monorail

Yes

456

69%

No

172

26%

Unsure/refuse

34

5%

Total

662

100%

Gender

Age
Group

Female

Male

18-30

31-45

46-60

61+

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Heard about Fiordland
monorail

Yes

64%

74%

37%

71%

74%

85%

No

31%

20%

58%

25%

18%

12%

Unsure/refuse

5%

6%

5%

3%

8%

3%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Area
Type

Akl

Wlg

Chch

Prov
Cities

Towns

Rural

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Heard about Fiordland
monorail

Yes

56%

76%

72%

75%

74%

82%

No

39%

23%

18%

17%

25%

13%

Unsure/refuse

5%

2%

10%

8%

1%

5%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Probed Party Vote (All
Voters)

National

Labour

NZ
First

Green

Undecided

Col %

Col %

Col
%

Col %

Col %

Heard about
Fiordland
monorail

Yes

71%

67%

67%

85%

65%

No

26%

27%

26%

14%

28%

Unsure/refuse

3%

6%

7%

2%

7%

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Supporters of the monorail say it is
environmentally sustainable, would create hundreds of jobs
and provide a world-class experience for visitors in
backcountry they would otherwise miss out on. Opponents say
it will have a negative impact on recreational users, native
bush and wildlife. On balance, would you support the
development of tourism infrastructure like a monorail if it
is outside the National Park land itself?

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